Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Practical case: Mobile Slaughter Unit

Practical case: Mobile Slaughter Unit

One of the practical cases on which i2connect project focused on is the operational group ‘Mobile Slaughter Unit’ (MSU). The aim of the project was to create a mobile slaughter unit to improve animal welfare and strengthen short supply chain, considering the problems related to find an (organic-certified) slaughterhouse at an accessible distance. In fact, smaller slaughterhouses have closed and larger slaughterhouses are often not equipped to slaughter a smaller number of animals. The long distances that have to be covered with the animals are a sticking point for many farmers and consumers. The final meat quality is also negatively affected by the animals’ stress associated with transport. The interactive innovation process allowed to found a solution for slaughtering small quantities of poultry on the farm. This makes it possible for small farmers to grow and commercialize a small number of poultry, special strains, or production methods that do not fit in industrial poultry production and processing. There is a small but clear market demand for this type of product and short food supply chains. Based on the above results a MSU for poultry may seem the most feasible, both financially, technically, and within the regulatory framework. Therefore a technical and business plan has been developed by an investor and operator to put a MSU for poultry into practice in 2022 in Flanders. Probably the most important success factor of the project was that partners worked together with several institutions, companies and people, all of them with their own expertise. The shared knowledge was vital to find solutions. On the other hand, the most difficult aspect has been meeting the legal requirements mostly focused on large-scale and non-mobile slaughterhouses.

One of the practical cases on which i2connect project focused on is the operational group ‘Mobile Slaughter Unit’ (MSU). The aim of the project was to create a mobile slaughter unit to improve animal welfare and strengthen short supply chain, considering the problems related to find an (organic-certified) slaughterhouse at an accessible distance. In fact, smaller slaughterhouses have closed and larger slaughterhouses are often not equipped to slaughter a smaller number of animals. The long distances that have to be covered with the animals are a sticking point for many farmers and consumers. The final meat quality is also negatively affected by the animals’ stress associated with transport. The interactive innovation process allowed to found a solution for slaughtering small quantities of poultry on the farm. This makes it possible for small farmers to grow and commercialize a small number of poultry, special strains, or production methods that do not fit in industrial poultry production and processing. There is a small but clear market demand for this type of product and short food supply chains. Based on the above results a MSU for poultry may seem the most feasible, both financially, technically, and within the regulatory framework. Therefore a technical and business plan has been developed by an investor and operator to put a MSU for poultry into practice in 2022 in Flanders. Probably the most important success factor of the project was that partners worked together with several institutions, companies and people, all of them with their own expertise. The shared knowledge was vital to find solutions. On the other hand, the most difficult aspect has been meeting the legal requirements mostly focused on large-scale and non-mobile slaughterhouses.

Source Project
i2connect - Connecting advisers to boost interactive innovation in agriculture and forestry
Ongoing | 2019-2024
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
France
Project details

Project Keywords